Top App Automation Testing Tools In 2022

Mobiles are a necessity today in the whole world. These technological devices have become so common that almost every average person owns a mobile phone. Technology in mobiles has sprung to new heights. Therefore, We have smartphones in use in the present day. These devices are capable of doing a lot of things. Bank transactions, entertainment, communication, photography, videography, fitness check are just some of the many things you can do on your phone. Such is the vast utility of mobile devices.

Mobile phones aid people through various mobile applications. These applications allow the mobile to function to serve the different needs of users. As the mobile industry itself is mammoth, the mobile application industry is also the same. Users are heavily into mobile applications for their needs. The estimated amount that customers from all over the world have spent on mobile applications amounts to several billions of dollars. Companies today want to be present in this mobile application market due to its mass popularity and significant revenue. Sports clubs, top businesses, tech companies, newspapers, etc., all have mobile applications.

This article will talk about the automated tools for testing mobile applications. You will also see the top tools used for this purpose, along with a brief description of testing automation.

Mobile App Automation Testing

Testing is crucial for any sector of information & technology. Mobile applications also fall in this sector, i.e., they need testing as well. Mobile applications have to be tested to make sure that they adhere to business objectives and customer expectations. Every mobile application has to be tested before its official launch. Now, we all know how much automation has taken over the information & technology industry. It has its branches in mobile application testing too. Automated testing tools provide an environment for automated testing applications for both iOS and Android. These are generally preferred for use over manual testing tools.

These automated tools allow companies to test the following in a budget-friendly way

• Unit testing
• GUI testing
• API testing
• Integration tests
• Smoke tests
• Regression testing
• Acceptance testing
• Apps performance testing and more

Also Read: Mobile App Testing Complete Guide

Benefits of Automated Mobile Testing

Automated tools of mobile testing have the following benefits which make it better than the manual tools of testing-

Takes Less Time During App Development

Automation’s basic principle is to reduce human labor and save time. Thus, automated tools of testing mobile applications take less time and increase speed and efficiency. Manual tools take too much time as well as the workforce. Automated testing is miles ahead of its alternative in terms of speed and efficiency. Automated testing also allows analysts and developers to run more tests for better scrutiny.

Decrease in Cost of Application Development

Automated testing increases efficiency. Therefore the time saved also leads to a decrease in the cost of the overall app development. As multiple tests are run on the application, the chances of bugs post-launch are low. If an application has bugs or errors after its launch, it is pretty costly to the company. Therefore, a lesser chance of bugs can lead to savings in the cost of the application development. Moreover, when an application would need a future update, the previous tests can be used for regression testing. This, too, leads to a decrease in costs for the developers.

Protects Brand Image

When an application has bugs or errors after its launch, it severely affects the developers and the company. Lousy user reviews, reduction in user base, etc., harms the application and its brand image. Automated testing reduces the chances of errors and bugs to a great extent. Thus, it helps earn a positive brand image, positive user reviews, and an increase in the user base.

Testing Simultaneously on Multiple Devices

Manual testing only allows the testing of an application on one device at a time. Today, many mobile devices are in the market, with new ones launching every two to three weeks. Different types of mobile devices may show different results of the same application. Therefore, it is essential to test the application on multiple devices to get accurate results. Automated testing allows testing of one application on various devices. This allows the testers to get results from different devices for better scrutiny.

Increase in Reliability & Accuracy

Automated testing eliminates human errors. At times, manual testing can lead to wrong results owing to human errors or limitations. These are removed in the case of automated testing, therefore, leading to an increase in accuracy and reliability.

Better Return on Investment

The above advantages make it clear that using automated testing is a much better option than manual testing. Using automated testing allows a much better return as compared to its alternative.

Top Mobile App Testing Automation Tools & Platforms

Many automated mobile app testing tools are available online. Here are the top computerized tools for testing mobile applications-

Robotium

It is an open-source automated testing tool for Android applications. It can be used both for native as well hybrid applications. Here, the tests are written in the Java language. Robotium assists users to quickly write robust to write robust black-box test cases for applications fast vital to black-box test cases for applications. It enables users to write user acceptance, system, and functional test cases.

Its benefits are as follows

• It has simple yet powerful test scripts.
• This tool enables automation of pre-installed applications
• Robotium has a faster-automated testing time compared to other platforms.
• It has a shorter code
• Automatic timing and delays

Its limitations are as follows

• It cannot handle web or flash components.
• It acts slower in older devices.
• It only supports Android applications, while iOS applications cannot be tested on it.

Appium

It is also an open-source automated testing tool for Android, Windows, and iOS applications. It is used for native, hybrid, and mobile web applications. This platform supports many programming languages such as Java, Ruby, C#, and others belonging to the WebDriver library. It aims at automated testing without modifying the applications. It is based on the Selenium tool, which is used to automate browsers.

Here are its advantages

• It is a cross-platform tool
• It supports multiple languages
• It does not depend on application modifications
• It has excellent support over the internet
• It does not require source code access
• It allows parallel execution of test scripts

Here are its limitations

• It does not have any official support
• Its UI is very complicated
• It needs constant modifications
• It provides limited support for testing Hybrid applications
• It does not allow testing on devices with Android versions lower than 4.2
• Appium Inspector does not run in Microsoft OS
• It lacks detailed reports
• It is slow as compared to other tools

Lambda Test

This is a cloud-based testing tool that allows you to test your web applications across many browsers. This platform enables both manual as well as automated testing. You can test your web applications across multiple browsers such as Internet Explorer, Chrome, Safari, Mozilla Firefox, Edge, Opera, and many more. It ensures that your application runs with almost every browser and device available in the market.

Here are its advantages

• It allows parallel testing
• It will enable users to work remotely
• It has a helpful support team

Here are its disadvantages

• No native testing
• No real devices are being used.
• The process is relatively slow.

Katalon Studio

This is a Selenium-based engine that is designed to create automated test scripts without coding. It does not require any sort of coding skills. It has a simple interface and allows dual scripting interfaces. It runs on Groovy(Java) programming language. It supports Windows, Android, and iOS mobile applications.

Here are its advantages

• It doesn’t require additional extensions to run tests.
• It aids users in easy analysis of data through dashboards and built-in reports.
• It supports several types of testing
• It has a user-friendly user interface

Here are its disadvantages

• It doesn’t support scripting languages
• It isn’t open sourced
• It has performance issues.
• It has a smaller community as compared to its alternatives.

Kobiton

It is a cloud-based mobile app testing platform. It is an open-source framework built on the Appium network. It allows access to both manual and automated testing of mobile applications. It is one of the most commonly used testing platforms for mobile applications. It enables testing in real devices. Users can find quick results through this platform.

Here are its advantages

• It identifies bugs quickly
• It is built on the Appium framework
• It allows testing on different devices

Its main drawback is its slow response time which affects its popularity among certain users.

Test Complete

It is an HTML5 test automation tool for mobile applications. Users can build automated tests for Android, iOs, Web, and Windows applications. It involves keyword-driven testing. It provides automated test-reporting as well as analysis. It supports languages such as Python, VBScript, Jscript, and JavaScript.

Here are its advantages

• Easy to use
• It is quite an efficient tool
• You can record or playback tests with this tool
• Supports both Android and iOS applications
• It is user friendly

Here are its limitations

• Android devices cannot connect during overload situations
• This tool does not support some features of iOs such as 3D touch

Conclusion

There are many options to go for in the case of automated tools for testing mobile applications. However, it is essential to use only that platform to assist your application in the best manner possible.

You should keep in mind the following things

• Try out a few tools before selecting a particular one
• Align your budget with the cost of the tool
• Select the platform which meets your testing needs and requirements
• Choose the type of tests that your application will require.

There is huge competition amongst applications today. Therefore it is crucial to keep your application free from bugs and errors to stay ahead. This will ensure a good brand image and lead to the application’s success. Also, if you are in need of expert app developers capable of performing app automation testing then react out to Emizentech a leading app development company globally.